Farm traction-engine.



R. D. VALENTINE,

FARM TRACTION ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED FEB- 27. I914.

l 1 9,879. Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

11. 0. VALENTINE. FARM TRACTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION IILED FEB. 27; I914.

' 3 SHEET$SHBET 2.

lutvnmlfivpt. 19, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

R. D. VALENTINE. FARM TRACTION ENGINE. I APPLICATION FILED FEB, 27. I924. 1,198,879.

.n r l h M n M 0 u 2 Wm MP1" m u? H H W H Q; 5 Q W 9 4 $2 2 E 5 @m 22 W%% Z7 1? J/farms ROBERT D. VALENTINE, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- ED STATES PAT OFFICE.

MENTS, T0 CORN BELT TRACTOR COMPANY, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, A COR- PORATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

FARM TRACTION-ENGINE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1,.R0BERT D. VALENTINE, a citizen of the United States, residing .at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Farm Traction-Engines, of which the following is a. specification.

My invention relates to farm traction engines, particularly of the type which may be employed for cultivating, harrowing, plowing and similar farm'operations.

It is the object of my invention to provide a traction engine comprising a'power unit having a single traction wheel, which wheel runs in advance of the implement or vehicle pulled by the engine and itself is oscillated to steer the said engine and vehicle.

My invention embraces broadly an organization for effecting these results, and more specifically a unitary frame system having a supporting portion in which the traction wheel is journaled, said frame system providing means for mounting the motor and transmission, together with means for coupling said frame system to any implement, such as a set of plows 0r a cultivator, so that said frame system may be oscillated relative to said implement, means being provided on the implement and fixed in relation thereto and having the necessary connection with the desired parts on the frame system for controlling the motor and the frame system from the operators seat on the vehicle.

The full objects and advantagesof my invention will appear in connection with the detailed description thereof and are particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, illustrating the application of my invention in one form,-Figure 1 is a plan view of the traction engine unit shown as coupled to a farm vehicle, such as a cultivator. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an end elevation partly in section. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the central control standard showing connected parts. Fig. 5 is a detail of the frame mounting.

The main frame of the engine unit, which may be in the form of a single casting or may be fabricated from wrought iron orother metal in any manner desired, com- Specification of Letters Patent.

beams 10 and 11 and connecting end beams l2 and 13. A central-beam or platform 14 Patented Sept. 19,1916. Application filed February 27, 1914. Serial'No. 821,484.

in the top plane of the end beams 12 and 1,3

is also provided. Extending from the corners of the said rectangular, frame and form-' ing a junction, as indicated at 15, are pairs of supports 16 and 17, respectively, these supports being preferably formed in angle shape. The unction point 15. provides journals for the shaft or live axle 18 upon which is secured a traction wheel 19, the wheel 1 9v being of'such size relative to the supports- 16, 17 as to come just below the platform 14 when said wheel is assembled in the frame. .Thesup'ports 16 and 17 are provided with short vertical portions 20 adjacent the point where said supports are united with the/side beams 10 and'll, as best shown in Figs. 2

and 5. The sections 20 are provided with pairs of obliquely disposed ears 21v and, 22, in which are journaled antifriction rollers 23 and 24. The rollers 23, 24 provide the means of coupling the engine frame unit to the frame connection for the implement or vehicle so as to permit relative oscillation of the engine frame unit, as will now be describe A circle 25, preferably formed of channel iron with the flanges turned outwardly, has bolted to the inside thereof a circular ring 26 provided with beveled annular faces 27,

28, with which the rollers 23 and 24 will contact when the ring 25 is assembled upon the rectangular frame. It will thus appear that the ring 25 will be supported by the rectangular frame and the traction wheel 19 so as to be capable of free rotative movement relative to said frame and traction wheel. Secured to the sideweb of the ring 25, and extending tangentially thereto in parallel relation, are a pair of channel iron beams 29 and 30, which beams are connected by a pair of crossbars 31 and 32. To the member 32 is bolted asupplemental frame 33, which forms a support fora-n operators seat 34 and for a standard 35 in which journaled the steering shaft 36.

The frame pieces 31 and 82 are preferably additionally secured together by end frame pieces 37, 38. To this rearwardly extending frame portion, .having capacity for relatlve rotation in a horizontal plane with respect to the engine frame and traction wl1eel, I'

design to have secured in any desired manner, the implen'ient or vehicle which my traction engine will operate. This imple ment may be especially constructed to be attached to myengine, in the form shown, and a set of such implements and vehicles may be provided to be interchangeably associated with my traction engine; but it is within the scope of my invention that implements or vehicles as ordinarily constructed may be secured to frame members 31, 32 so as to be drawn by the traction enginea In any event, the wheels 39 of said implement or vehicle will provide a support for said rearwardly extending frame. In the form shown, the wheels 39 are journaled upon an axle 40, which is connected with the frame member 31. by means of braces ll and with the supplemental frame 33 by means of braces 42, the cultivator teeth in the form shown being indicated as carried by a crossbar l4 pivoted to arms 45 depending from frame members '29 and 30, said arms being aiflditionally braced by bars 43 connected with cross beam It will be apparent that in the above or ganizationof elements the steering of the machine, considered as an entirety, is effected by oscillating the traction wheel 19 and .therectangular frame and parts thereon supported, by said traction wheel. For this purpose the steering shaft 36, having thereon hand wheel 46, is provided with a worm 47 meshing with a worm wheel 48 on a short vertical shaft li) journaled in a bracket 50 secured upon crossbar 31. The shaftlf has thereon a drum 51. around which extends a. cable 52. The ends of cable 52 extend in reverse directions about circular flange pieces 53 and 5i bolted to pairs of arms 55 and 56 extending from side beams 10 and 11. respectively, said ends being secured, as indicated at 7. 58, to the ends of said flange pieces 5?). 54. It will be apparent, therefore, that by rotation of hand wheel ll; and steering shaft 343, the drum will be rotated in the desired directionand through the operation of the cable 52 will oscillate the engine frame and traction wheel 19 upon the point of support of said traction wheel on theground as a pivot. The large leverage obtained through the worm wheel 4 7, relatively small drum 51 and large drum formed by flange pieces 53 and 5+, gives an exceedingly easy control, notwithstanding the weight of the part which must be oscillated.

The operative parts of the engine are mounted upon the rectangular engine frame above described. A shelf-like extension or bracket 59 forms a support for the motor, indicated diagrammatically at 60, which may be of any known type, preferably some form of evplosive engine. and is provided with a fly wheel 61 andmotor shaft 62 rearwardly extended in the vertical plane extending through the center of the traction wheel 19. A disk or pulley shaft 63 is journaled in standards (34, 65 upon frame members 10, 11 at the end of shaft 62 and extends in the plane of said shaft 62 at right angles thereto. Said shaft 63 has fast thereon a pair of friction disks 66, 67 equi distant from the center of shaft At one end of shaft (33, outside of standard G l, is a belt pulley (38. shaft 63 is a pinion (59 meshing with a spur gear 70 fast on a. shaft 71 journaled in bearings formed in standards 72, 73 on side beams 10 and 11. The drive shaft 71 has thereon a sprocket pinion Tlover which runs a sprocket chain 75, which in turn'meshes with a large sprocket gear 76 fast on the traction wheel 19, by means of which said traction wheel is driven.

A friction wheel 77 is splined upon the shaft 62 between the friction disks G6 and (37. The friction wheel 77 is of. less diameter than the distance between the disks 66, (37, so that when said disks are in the neutral position the friction wheel 77 will engage neither of them and shaft 63 will not be operated. The shaft (53 is mounted in its bearings on uprights (Stand 5 for longitudinal movement, pinion (if) being made wide for that purpose. Either of friction disks ($6 or (W'may be caused to engage friction wheel 77. as desired, by sliding the shaft 63 and the friction disks connected therewith in either direction. hen the friction wheel engages one disk the machine will be driven 106 in a forward direction. and when the engagement is with the other disk the drive will be reversed. The speed may be varied at will by moving the friction wheel 77 longitudinally along shaft 62, such speed being slowest when said wheel is at its forward position and engages close to the outer periph- -ery of the friction disks, and increasing as the friction wheel is caused to approach the centers of the friction disks. it will be 110 clear that the draft power exerted will be proportional to the speed. It follows, therefore. that when my farm traction engine is employed at work involving relatively light draft. as cultivating or harrowing, it may be driven at relatively high speed, while if the draft is heavy. as would be the case in plowing, the speed may be decreased and the power at the drawbar relatively increased to meet the requirements of such work.

It will be obvious that control, members for the transn'iission. reverse. fuel supply and magneto, as well as the steering device, must be extended within easy reach of the operator upon the seat ll and must be fixed in position relative to said saat and the implement or vehicle drawn by the engine. All of the control elements, therefore, must transmit their movements through members which will permit the oscillation of the Fast on the other end of 75 i engine frame relative to said control members. To accomplish this I provide a tubular standard 7 8 threaded into a plate 79 so as to be rigidly carried thereby in a vertical position, the plate7 9 being supported by a bracket extension :0 from table 14, as best shown in Fig. 3. The center of the tubular standard 78 is in the intersection of the vertical planes passing through the transverse and central diametrical axes of the traction wheel 19. It represents, therefore, the center of rotation about which the traction wheel and parts carried thereby are oscillated to steer the machine. shown in Figs. 3 and 1, the shaft 63 is moved endwise in either direction from or through its neutral position to engage either disk 66 or disk 67 with the friction wheel 77 by means of a fork 81 engaging a ring 82 journaled in a groove in a collar 83 fast on shaft 63. This fork is pivoted-at 84 to a standard 85 carried by plate 79 and has a second fork arm 86 engaging a ring 87 in a groove on a sleeve 88 mounted for vertical sliding movement on'standard 78. The

- sleeve 88 has pivotally connected therewith sleeve 95.

a link 89,, which link in turn is pivotallv connected with the end 90 of a lever 91 pivoted at 92 to the side of a segment stand 93, which is supported at its rear by an arm 94 and at its front portion by a double sleeve 95, 96 on the tubular standard 78, said sleeve being connected by a rib portion 97 and held in positionon said tubular standard by collars 98, 99 at either side of the The segmentstand 93 has two portions 100, 101 provided witlrratchet segments, 102, 102. The lever 91 extends into proximity-with the seat 34 and has thereon a detent 103 for engaging in notches 1n segment 102' to hold the lever 91 in desired position, It will be obvious that but three such notches will ordinarily be used, one

.at the center corresponding to the neutral position of shaft 63 and friction disks 66, 67 carried thereby, in which neither of said disks engage friction wheel 77, and one at each side corresponding respectively to the positions in which friction disk 66 or friction disk 67 is brought into engagement with friction wheel 77.

' The friction wheel 77, as best shown in Fig. 2, is provided with a sleeve 104, upon which is journaled a ring 105'engaged by a fork 106 on the end of a link 107. The link 107 is pivotally connected at 108 to the depending end of an arm 109 pivotedat 110 to a stand 111 supported by plate 79. The

, arm 109 has integrally connected therewith a fork 112, which engages within a ring in a sleeve 113 slidably mounted on tubular standard78. A fork 114C engages a second ring 113 onsleeve 113, said fork 114 being rigid on an arm 116 pivotal-1y connected at 117 to the end 118 of a lever 119 pivoted at As best effective length of fork arm 112 is so pro portioned to the length of arm 109 that a movement of lever 119-through the range permitted by segment 102 will slide the friction wheel 77 throughout the entire range of movement for changing speed from the minimum to the maximum'rate, and vice versa. The segment 102 will be provided with a. multiplicity of notches and a the lever 119 with a detent 121 forengagementin said notches to permit holding the friction wheel 77 in any desired position of adjustment. The lever 119, like lever 91, is extended into proximity with seat 3 1. a

It will be obvious that with the above de scribed connections the transmission elements may be operated to efiect the various driving conditions, ahead, reverse, and at different speeds, with perfect facility, however-much the engine frame and supporting traction wheel 19 may be oscillated in steer- 9 ing the machine. The levers 91 and 119 will always have the same relative position in respect to the seat of the operator, except for such changes in posltlon as occur in manipulating said levers foithe purpose of controlling the transmission.

To control the fuel supply and magneto, I i

provide a pair of pull rods 122 and 123 sliding in guides 124: on the segment arms 10:9, 101 and connected to arms 125 pivoted to, ratchet stands 126 carried by segment stand- 93. Fast with arms 125 are arms 127, and

.said arms 127 have swiveled thereto byeyebolts127 flexible link rods 128, which, in turn, are pivotally connected to elbow levers 129, and these elbow levers, by means of rods 130, are connected with the fuel supply valve and magneto, respectively, not shown. Likethe levers 91 and 119, the pull rods 122, 123 extend in proximity with the seat 34. The elbow levers 129 are, of course, fast on the engine frame, while the rods 128 are fast with the relatively movable stand 93 and implement frame, The rods- 128 are, however, so-close to" the vertical axis of os-- cillation of the engine frame that, in'view of their flexibility, the slight twist, one around the other, which takes place when the engine frame'and traction wheel 19 are oscillated will have no appreciable effect upon these devices.

The simplicity and high degree of utility of my traction engine will be apparent. The entire weight of motor, transmission and, in fact, the whole machine, with the a turn as short as may be desired.

exception of the seat frame, is borne directly by the single traction wheel. The engine is responsive in a high degree to steering impulses, as it is the traction wheel itself which turns the device. It is practicable with my machine to turn the engine around in a space even less than that required to turn a horsedriven implement. The advantage of such quick turning in relatively small space will be apparent, especially when it is considered that it is the purpose of the engine to draw such farm implements as cultivator-s, where, from the circumstances of the rase, but little room is available at the ends of the rows of corn and cotton or other growing plants which are operated upon by the machine. The engine can be 'made. relatively very light for the concentration of the entire weight of the machine upon the single traction wheel will give a very large amount of tractive power with a comparatively light machine. Waste of power is reduced to a minimum. and all parts of the engine are accessible and easily got a for the purpose of lubrication or repair. Xot only are side draft and the use of differential gearing enmay obviated in'my machine, but. from the fact that the traction wheel itself is oscillated to change the direction of move ment of the engine. it is practicable to make The lriven wheel being the element turned will alwaysmove in the direction in which it is turned however sharp an angle that may be, which not'possible of a steering mcchanism pushed in advance of the driving elements. as is \\'ell-l(nown.

I claim:

l. A. traction engine comprising a singlelraction wheel. a frame supported by said traction wheel. a motor and transmission elements supported by said frame directly above the uppermost portion of the traction wheel. means for holding said frame and wheel in respective relative horizontal and vertical position. and means for oscillating the frame and wheel relative to said holding n rans.

2. traction engine comprising a single traction wheel having an axle rigid therewith, a frame having arms at each side of the wheel. said axle being journaled therein, a motor and transmission elements mounted upon the frame above said axle and the highest portion of said wheel. a guide ring surrounding said frame and the upper part of said wheel. and means engageable with said guide ring for holding the frame and wheel in proper relative position, and for permitting oscillation relative to the guide ring.

3. A traction engine comprising a traction wheel and a frame.supported thereby. a circular guide surrounding said frame having a pair of angularly-disposed beveled faces, a

trol of the operator for effecting such oscillation to steer the traction engine.

a l. A traction engine comprising a traction wheel, a substantially rectangular frame, supporting standards extending from the corners of said frame to the axle of the traction engine, a circular guide surrounding-said frame having a pair of angularlydisposed annular surfaces, and pairs of angularly-disposed antifriction rollers upon each of said standards at the corners of the rectangular frame engaging said annular surfaces for holding the frame and traction wheel for oscillation about a vertical axis within said guide, and means under the control of the operator for effecting such oscillation to steer the traction engine.

A traction engine comprising a traction wheel, a substantially rectangular f 'ame, supporting standards extending from the corners of said frame to the axle of the traction engine, a circular gu'itle'surrounding said frame having a pair of angularlydisposed annular surfaces, and pairs of angularlydisposed antifriction rollers upon each of said standards at the corners of the rectangular frame engaging said annular surfaces for holding the frame and traction wheel for oscillation about a vertical axis.

within said guide, circular flange members secured to the corners of said rectangular frame, a drum. a cable surrounding said drum and said flange members and secured' at its ends to said flange members, and means under the control of the operator for rotating the drum.

6. A traction engine comprising a tractio'n wheel and a frame supported thereby, said frame comprising a substantially rectangular horizontal portion extending across and above the traction wheel. a horizontal circular guide surrounding said frame, means on the frame engaging the guide for holding the frame and traction wheel for oscillation about a vert' al axis within said guide. and means under the control of the traction wheel and its supported frame as a unit to steer the machine, and a wheeled implement or vehicle connected to and forming a support for the rear portion of said last named frame,

8. A traction engine comprising a traction wheel and a frame supported thereby, a motor and transmission elements -supported by said frame and having operative connection with the traction 'wheel, a wheeled implement or vehicle, a device for connecting saidwheeled member with said 'frame so that the frame and traction wheel may be moved about a vertical axis relatively to said wheeled member, means for controlling the transmission and motor having cperatingleve'rs therefor'extending into proximity with the seat of the operator on the said wheeled member, and connections between said control levers and controlling means permitting relative movement thereof about a vertical axis with the wheeled member. and the frame respectively.

9. A traction engine comprising a traction.

wheel and a frame supported thereby, a motor andtran'smission elements supported by said frame and. having operative connection with the traction wheel, a wheeled im-' plement or vehicle, a device for connecting said wheeled member with said frame so that the frame and traction wheel may be moved about a vertical axis relatively to said wheeled member, a standard on said frame extending in said vertical axis, controlling means for the transmission and motor, control levers extending into proximity with the seat of the operator on the wheeled member, and means on said standard operatively connecting said levers with T said controlling means-so as to permit relative movement thereof with the wheeled member and the frame, respectively, about said vertical axis.

"10. A traction engine comprising a traction wheel and a frame supported thereby,

a motor and transmission elements suppcrt-,

ed by said frame and having operative con nection with the traction wheel, a wheeled implement or vehicle, a device for connectinc said wheeled member with said frame so that-the frame and traction wheel may be moved about a vertical axis relatively to said wheeled member, members on the frame for controlling said transmission elements to reverseand change the speed of the engine, operating levers extending into proximity with the seat ofthe operator on the said wheeled member, a cylindrical stand.- ard having its center in said vertical axis, and sleeves movable along and about said standard forming .an operative connection between said controlling members and said levers to permit relative movement thereof with the frame and the wheeled member, respectively, about said vertical axis.

11. A traction engine comprising traction wheel and a. frame supported thereby, a motor and transmissionl elements sup ported by said frame and having operative connection with the traction wheel, a wheeled implement or vehicle, a device for connecting said wheeled member with said frame so that the frame and traction wheel may be moved about a vertical axis relatively to said wheeled member, members on the frame for controlling said trans-mission elements to reverse and change the speed of the engine, members for controlling the motor, operating levers for all of said members extending into proximity with the seat of the operator on said Wheeled member, a tubular standard having its center in said vertical axis, sleeves movable along and about said standard forming operative connections'between part of said levers and said. transmission controlling members, and axially rotatable flexible rods extending through said tubular standard providing operative connections between other levers and said motor control members, said connections permitting relative movement of the levers and the control members with the wheeled member and frame, respectively, about said vertical'axis,

In testimony whercofl affix my signatu in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT D. ELLEIITIN 'Vi itnesses I H. A. BOWMAN,

F. A. WHITELEY. 

